Pin driver circuit with improved swing fidelity

ABSTRACT

A circuit may include a controller, at least one bridge circuit, and a plurality of switches. The plurality of switches may be connected parallel to each other, each may have a switch output connected to the bridge circuit. The bridge circuit, upon receiving a current from the plurality of switches, may generate an output based on a reference voltage. The controller may generate a plurality of control signals, based on a voltage transition range, to selectively turn on the plurality of the switches in more than one combination, to supply a current to the output.

BACKGROUND

In electronic device testing, a pin driver on a test system may provide a voltage pulse stimulus to a device under test (DUT) at a specific time and may measure a response from the DUT, to determine whether the DUT meets a range of parameters of its device specification. The quality of a test system may be determined by the waveform fidelity (ideality) and timing precision of the voltage pulse it provides. Spurious signals (switching transients) in the voltage pulses may be produced during voltage level transitions, and may impact both fidelity and timing accuracy.

An ideal voltage level transition may be defined as a linear voltage transition between two voltage levels. An actual voltage level transitioning may include deviations, such as overshoots, undershoots, pre-shoots, and slew nonlinearity, caused by spurious signals. These deviations negatively impact timing precision and need be minimized.

Spurious signals may be caused by parasitic capacitance in the voltage driver circuits of the test system. Dominant parasitic capacitance sources may include metal interconnect routing and device junction capacitances, which are both related to the physical switch/transistor size in the voltage driver circuits.

In order to test a variety of electronic devices, an automatic test system may need to drive a pin with voltage level transitions between different voltage extremes using different techniques. For example, memory devices may typically be tested using ‘class A’ techniques, which may require limited voltage swing ranges (swing of 25 mV to 500 mV for example) that also limits device power consumption in the memory devices. Other devices may be tested using ‘class AB’ techniques, which may require higher voltage transition speed and greater voltage swing ranges (>500 mV or >5V for example).

Some devices may have pins that need to be tested using both limited voltage swing ranges and greater voltage swing ranges, may thus require the test system, for example, to test the pins using both ‘class A’ techniques and ‘class AB’ techniques. This additional capability requirement poses a problem in test system design, that the test system need to be capable of driving large voltage swing ranges fast enough and driving small voltage swing ranges with high fidelity and few spurious signals.

Switch sizes of test systems may be designed based on the slew current requirements needed to meet the maximum transition speed requirement. In other words, in order to drive a pin with a relatively large voltage swing range in a small amount of time, the driver circuit may need to be able to produce relatively large amount of slew current, by having large switch size in the driver circuit.

Large switch size may correspond to large parasitic capacitance. The resultant spurious signals may be small, relative to the overall large voltage swing range. However, if the same driver circuit with large switch size is used to drive smaller voltage swing ranges, the same spurious signals may become relatively larger in proportion, and thus would significantly and negatively impact timing precision.

Thus, there is a need for an improved pin driver that can produce high swing fidelity when driving a variety of different voltage swing ranges.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary circuit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 3 a and 3 b illustrate simulated switching current and voltage transition curves.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary circuit 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The circuit 100 may include a controller 110, at least one bridge circuit (for example 130, 132), and a plurality of switches (for example 120.1-120.N, 121.1-121.N). The plurality of switches (120.1-120.N, 121.1-121.N) may be connected parallel to each other, each may have a switch output connected to the bridge circuit (130, 132) at SVIH1, SVIH2, SVIL1, SVIL2. The bridge circuit (130, 132), upon receiving a current from the plurality of switches (120.1-120.N, 121.1-121.N), may generate an output V_(drive) based on a reference voltage (VIH, VIL). The controller 110 may generate a plurality of control signals (Seg.1-Seg.N), based on a voltage transition range (for example, VIH-VIL), to selectively turn on the plurality of the switches 120.1-120.N, 121.1-121.N) in more than one combinations, to supply a current to the output V_(drive). Optionally, the circuit 100 may include an output stage 140 that drives a voltage V_(pin), corresponding to V_(drive).

The controller 110 may receive reference voltages (VIL, VIH) and a data signal DATA, to determine and generate the control signals (Seg.1-Seg.N), which may represent which segment of switches to turn on for one of the bridge circuits (130, 132). The control signals (Seg.1-Seg.N) may be binary coded. The controller 110 may include a processor executing a set of instructions stored on a non-transitory tangible computer readable medium, to perform a method according to the present disclosure.

Each of the plurality of the switches (120.1-120.N, 121.1-121.N) may receive a corresponding control signal (Seg.1-Seg.N), and turn on a respective current to a bridge circuit (130, or 132). Each of the plurality of the switches (120.1-120.N, 121.1-121.N) may include switching channels (123.1-123.N, 124.1-124.N, 126.1-126.N, and 127.1-127.N), with each switching channel connected to one of the bridge circuits (130, 132) at SVIH1, SVIH2, SVIL1, SVIL2. Each switch may include a current source (122.1-122.N, 125.1-125.N), which may limit the maximum supply current in each switch.

In FIG. 1, each segment of switches may be a pair of switches. For example, switches 120.1 and 121.1 may form one segment of switches, both being controlled by a control signal Sig.1. FIG. 1 illustrates by example, N segments of switches. However, more or less segments are possible depending on design requirements. Segments need not be in pairs, and need not be balanced or matched.

Each bridge circuit (130, 132) may represent a voltage clamping node which clamps the output to a corresponding reference voltage (respectively VIH, VIL). Each bridge circuit (130, 132) may be turned on, upon receiving a current from the outputs of the bridge circuits may be connected to each other to form a common output V_(drive) in a wired-OR logic. During a voltage level transition on the common output, one of the bridge circuits may be turned off, and another bridge circuit may be turned on. Each bridge circuit (130, 132) may include a plurality of diodes (130.1-130.4, 132.1-132.4) to clamp the common output V_(drive) to track the appropriate reference voltage (VIH, VIL). In other words, for example, if a current is supplied through the bridge circuit 130, flowing from SVIH1 to SVIH2, then voltages at SVIH1 and SVIH2 may be voltage clamped by VIH, and thus the common output V_(drive) may be voltage clamped to track or transition toward VIH. If no current is supplied through the bridge circuit 130, flowing from SVIH1 to SVIH2, then the common output V_(drive) may not be voltage clamped by the bridge circuit 130.

During a voltage level transition of the common output V_(drive), for example, from VIL to VIH, the controller 110 may use control signals Sig.1-Sig.N, to turn off all of the switch channels (124.1-124.N and 127.1-127.N) for bridge circuit 132, and to turn on selective switch channels (some or all of 123.1-123.N and 126.1-126.N) for bridge circuit 130. Consequently, the current flowing from SVIL1 to SVIL2 may be turned off, the current may begin to flow from SVIH1 to SVIH2, and the common output V_(drive) may be voltage clamped by the bridge circuit 130 and may be driven to transition to VIH.

In an embodiment, the switches (120.1-120.N, 121.1-121.N) may be selectively turned on in more than one combinations corresponding to more than one current levels supplied to the output. The more than one current levels may be evenly distributed, or may be arbitrarily set to specific predetermined current levels according to industry test standards or device specific parameters.

Each of the switches (120.1-120.N, 121.1-121.N), or the switch channel of each switch, may have a same physical size and a same parasitic capacitance on the switch output, or may have a different physical size and a different parasitic capacitance on the switch output. In one embodiment, the switch channel may have physical sizes that increase in size in multiples, for example, switch channel 123.2 may be twice the size of switch channel 123.1, and switch channel 123.N may be 2^(N-1) the size of switch channel 123.1. In such a case, the switch channel size would allow the controller 110 to use binary coded control signals Sig.1-Sig.N to produce current levels that are evenly distributed, with the minimum number of control signals.

In an embodiment, the switches (120.1-120.N, 121.1-121.N) may be selectively turned on in a timed sequence, to supply more than one current levels to the output in one single voltage transition period. That is, the controller 110 may selectively turn on only a few of the switches to supply a low current level at the early stage or the late stage of a voltage level transition period, to ensure that the low current level does not generate any significant spurious signals (large overshoot, undershoot, preshoot) near any voltage trip points, and selectively turn on more of the switches to supply a higher current level at the middle stage of a voltage level transition period to ensure a fast voltage level transition. This current ramp control sequence may allow the circuit to have additional control over output voltage swing fidelity.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary method 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The method 200 may include generating, based on a voltage transition range, a plurality of control signals (block 210), selectively turning on the plurality of the switches to generate an output voltage, based on the plurality of the control signals (block 220), determining if the output voltage is to be transitioned again (block 230). If the output voltage is to be transitioned, return to block 210, otherwise continue to maintain the state of the switches (block 240) and then return to block 230 to await for the next output voltage transition.

FIGS. 3 a and 3 b illustrate simulated switching current curves 310 and 320 and corresponding simulated voltage level transitions 330 and 340, to transition the output voltage between 0 mV and 50 mV, in an exemplary circuit.

For switching current curve 310, after time t0, all of the segments of switches may be turned on to supply current to the bridge circuit 130, the current may begin to increase. Correspondingly, the output voltage in voltage level transition 330 may begin to increase after t0. The current curve 310 may peak and overshoot, and then decrease to settle at some stable current level. Correspondingly, the voltage transition 330 may experience two disturbances.

In comparison, for switching current curve 320, after time t0, only one of the segments of switches may be turned on to supply current to the bridge circuit 130, the current may begin to increase. Correspondingly, the output voltage in voltage level transition 340 may begin to increase after t0. The current curve 320 may have much less of an overshoot, and then decrease to settle at some stable current level. Correspondingly, the voltage transition 340 may experience almost no disturbances, and thus may have improved voltage swing fidelity in an almost linear voltage level transition. However, voltage transition curve 340 may experience a longer voltage transition period.

As evident from FIGS. 3 a and 3 b, if the voltage level transition range is small (in this case, 50 mV), it may be necessary to use fewer segments of switches during voltage transitioning, to reduce parasitic capacitance, in order to reduce current and voltage disturbances, and to have better voltage swing fidelity. However, the use of fewer segments of switches may cause longer voltage transition period. Thus, design of the switch sizes and control signals may need to trade off between required maximum voltage transition period and voltage swing fidelity as necessary. 

1. A circuit comprising: a controller; more than one bridge circuit; and a plurality of switches, connected parallel to each other, such that each switch having a switch output connected to one of the more than one bridge circuit and each of the more than one bridge circuit are connected to the switch output of more than one of the switches; wherein the more than one bridge circuit each corresponding to one of a plurality of reference voltages, upon receiving a current from the plurality of switches, generates an output having a voltage transition with a voltage transition range between a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage, wherein the controller generates, based on the voltage transition range between the first reference voltage and a second reference voltage, a plurality of control signals to control the voltage transition of the output without changing the reference voltages, and wherein the controller generates the control signals to selectively turn on the plurality of switches in more than one combination, to turn off a first bridge circuit of the more than one bridge circuit and to turn on a second bridge circuit of the more than one bridge circuit, to supply a current to the output of the more than one bridge circuit.
 2. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the switches are selectively turned on in more than one combinations corresponding to more than one current levels supplied to the output.
 3. The circuit of claim 2, wherein the more than one current levels are evenly distributed.
 4. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the control signals are binary coded.
 5. The circuit of claim 1, wherein each of the switches has a same physical size and a same parasitic capacitance on the switch output.
 6. The circuit of claim 1, wherein each of the switches has a different physical size and a different parasitic capacitance on the switch output.
 7. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the switches are selectively turned on in a sequence, to supply more than one current levels to the output in one voltage transition period.
 8. A method comprising: generating, by a controller, based on a voltage transition range between a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage, a plurality of control signals to control a voltage transition of the output without changing the reference voltages; selectively turning on a plurality of switches in more than one combination, based on the plurality of control signals; upon receiving a current from the plurality of switches, turning off a first bridge circuit of more than one bridge circuit and turning on a second bridge circuit of the more than one bridge circuit; and generating, by the more than one bridge circuit, the output based on a reference voltage, to supply a current to the output of the more than one bridge circuit, wherein the plurality of switches are connected parallel to each other, such that each switch having a switch output connected to one of the more than one bridge circuit and each of the more than one bridge circuit are connected to the switch output of more than one of the switches, wherein the more than one bridge circuit each corresponding to one of a plurality of reference voltages, upon receiving a current from the plurality of switches, generates the output having the voltage transition with a voltage transition range between the first reference voltage and the second reference voltage.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the switches are selectively turned on in more than one combinations corresponding to more than one current levels supplied to the output.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the more than one current levels are evenly distributed.
 11. The method of claim 8, wherein the control signals are binary coded.
 12. The method of claim 8, wherein each of the switches has a same physical size and a same parasitic capacitance on the switch output.
 13. The method of claim 8, wherein each of the switches has a different physical size and a different parasitic capacitance on the switch output.
 14. The method of claim 8, wherein the switches are selectively turned on in a sequence, to supply more than one current levels to the output in one voltage transition period.
 15. A non-transitory computer readable medium, storing instructions executable by a processor to perform: generating, by a controller, based on a voltage transition range between a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage, a plurality of control signals to control a voltage transition of the output without changing the reference voltages; selectively turning on a plurality of switches in more than one combination, based on the plurality of control signals; upon receiving a current from the plurality of switches, turning off a first bridge circuit of more than one bridge circuit and turning on a second bridge circuit of the more than one bridge circuit; and generating, by the more than one bridge circuit, the output based on a reference voltage, to supply a current to the output of the more than one bridge circuit, wherein the plurality of switches are connected parallel to each other, such that each switch having a switch output connected to one of the more than one bridge circuit and each of the more than one bridge circuit are connected to the switch output of more than one of the switches, wherein the more than one bridge circuit each corresponding to one of a plurality of reference voltages, upon receiving a current from the plurality of switches, generates the output having the voltage transition with a voltage transition range between the first reference voltage and the second reference voltage.
 16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the switches are selectively turned on in more than one combinations corresponding to more than one current levels supplied to the output.
 17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the more than one current levels are evenly distributed.
 18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the control signals are binary coded.
 19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein each of the switches has a same physical size and a same parasitic capacitance on the switch output.
 20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the switches are selectively turned on in a sequence, to supply more than one current levels to the output in one voltage transition period. 